Q&A With Gerald Smetana, MD, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: Canagliflozin as Type 2 Diabetes Therapy Shows Potential

There is no shortage of treatments available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but a new medication could change the way some patients manage their disease and could have even further reaching effects in the future.

Gerald Smetana, MD, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center discussed the potential impact of Canagliflozin as a new way of treating the condition during the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine meeting in Boston. With the medication glucose is excreted through the patient's urine in what Smetana called a "completely novel drug." With the medication he said patients also see an effect on weight loss as patients also excrete calories through the urine and has shown strong results in early studies. Smetana added that at this point it may not be a good first line therapy for patients.